First time broody

[Kimmyk80]

I have a Welsummer hen that has been broody for the last week. I have decided to let her go ahead and hatch 4 eggs because I want to increase my flock size anyway. I have no experience with a hen raising chicks, so I have a few questions.
1. The nesting box she is using is about 3 feet off the ground. Do I need to make her a box on the ground and move the eggs so the chicks don't fall out of the nesting box once they hatch?
2. The temps will still be pretty cold here for a couple of months. We do have a heat light in the coop, but will the hen keep the chicks warm enough?
3. How many chicks can a broody hen care for at once?
4. My flock free ranges. Do I need to keep the hen and chicks in the run until it gets warm instead of turning them out with the others, or will the hen take care of making sure they are safe?

Sorry for so many questions, but I know you all are experts

 

[hysop]

I’ll answer the questions I do know.

Do keep them in a separate broody coop while they’re still babies. Around two weeks you can let them follow the momma around but for safety I’d wait at least 2 weeks.

A chicken can sit on 15 eggs at once. Anymore and they probably won’t be properly developed. She should be fine keeping them warm enough. No worries.

As far as moving them to a broody coop, someone should have tips for that. I don’t have experience on that. One day my lost hen came back with 5 chicks without my help but it was August time frame.

If this is her first time being broody she may get bored and not complete the full term. So do have an incubator ready if you want to still go ahead and hatch them if she stops being broody half way through.

 

[Kimmyk80]

I’ll answer the questions I do know.

Do keep them in a separate broody coop while they’re still babies. Around two weeks you can let them follow the momma around but for safety I’d wait at least 2 weeks.

A chicken can sit on 15 eggs at once. Anymore and they probably won’t be properly developed. She should be fine keeping them warm enough. No worries.

As far as moving them to a broody coop, someone should have tips for that. I don’t have experience on that. One day my lost hen came back with 5 chicks without my help but it was August time frame.

If this is her first time being broody she may get bored and not complete the full term. So do have an incubator ready if you want to still go ahead and hatch them if she stops being broody half way through.

Thank you for the info! I have marked the 4 eggs I intend to let her hatch. I didn't want to let her lay too many since we are are both new to this;-) I do have some eggs in my incubator right now that are about 5 days ahead of the ones she is laying on, so it is primed and ready to go if needed!